54th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

December 10th, 2008

Each year, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show draws more than 2,400 of the world's finest Arabian and half-Arabian horses for a week of thrilling competition in pursuit of the coveted "Scottsdale Champion" title. These magnificent animals and their owners gather from around the world to compete for more than $1,000,000 in prizes in more than 640 colorful classes.

The 54th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show will take place at the City of Scottsdale's WestWorld, February 12-22, 2009. The largest event of its kind in the world, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show routinely attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators. In addition to exciting competitions, gala parties, educational seminars and an international cuisine court, the event features more than 300 vendors and trade booths, offering everything from lavish jewelry, clothing and works of art to boots, saddles and gifts. Guests also can stroll the luxurious, exotically decorated stabling areas in which the horses are housed.

Although it is a grand event today, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show had very modest beginnings. It all started in 1953 when horse fancier Ed Tweed stopped by the stable of Pearl Grey Clyde, the first person to bring a purebred Arabian horse to the Valley of the Sun. At that meeting, Tweed proclaimed that he would bring together all Arabian horse owners in Arizona and start an Arabian Horse Association. Two years later, the inaugural Arabian Horse Show was held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. The event was organized by an all-volunteer group and consisted of 50 horses and just over a dozen exhibitors, all from Arizona and neighboring states. In contrast, the 2008 show featured exhibitors from all 50 states and 12 foreign countries.

Following the inaugural event, Arabian horse owner Ann McCormick bought 150 acres of land near Bell Road that became Paradise Park, the new site of the Arabian Horse Show. Due to the amazing success of the event, it outgrew Paradise Park in the mid-1980s and moved on to WestWorld of Scottsdale, a newly developed, much larger facility that proved to be the perfect locale for this incredibly popular show.

Each year the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show raises thousands of dollars for local charities. Some that have benefited from recent shows include the March of Dimes, Cox Charities, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Phoenix Children's Hospital. For more than fifty years the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona has been a supporter of charitable organizations and will continue to support such endeavors this year. Club members estimate that over the years, more than 100 charities have benefited substantially from the event.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is a must-see event that is perfect for the whole family. Join us in Scottsdale next February and watch these magnificent horses compete!